Stories about Politics from February, 2011
Iran: A Blogger Who Prayed to See Protesters Beaten
After widespread protests in Iran on February 14, Iranian cyber-activists flooded the internet with videos, photos and tweets from the demonstrations. Meanwhile, a different interpretation of events exists on the internet too. Iranian pro-government Islamist bloggers are also prolific when it comes to sharing their thoughts online.
Peru: Ex-Minister Asked US Embassy to Help Contain Opponent's Presidential Campaign
On February 19th, Spanish newspaper El Pais released a cable stating that "Fernando Rospigliosi, former Minister of the Interior in the government of Alejandro Toledo, asked the assistance of the United States Embassy to carry a campaign against Ollanta Humala." Peruvian bloggers and Twitter users quickly reacted to the cable that rocked the local political environment during an election year.
Macedonia: Musings on the Early Elections
The Macedonian public is furiously discussing the justification and timing of the upcoming early elections.
Bahrain: Protests Block National Assembly Building
Anti government protesters on Monday morning blocked the National Council building where both Parliament and the Shura (Consultative) Councils hold their weekly sessions. The reason for the protest in front of the National Assembly is to topple the bicameral system in addition to the protesters' other demands for a new constitution and the toppling of the regime.
Honduras: Taxi Drivers and Teachers Strike
“La Gringa” blogs about a strike led by teachers and taxi drivers in La Ceiba on February 21. “This was the third national strike of the school year, which only began on Monday, February 14,” she writes.
France: New Right-Leaning Website Enters the Fray
Atlantico.fr, a new right-leaning website in French modeled on several American web successes (including The Atlantic and Politico) is quickly earning notoriety in France in expectation of what role it may play in upcoming national elections.
Haiti: Preventable Suffering
“The earthquake did not kill people. Bad buildings killed people. Lack of medical care killed people. Lack of infrastructure killed people. Lack of caring government officials kill[s] people”: Dying in Haiti is convinced that “most Haitian suffering is not necessary and is preventable in the first place.”
Australia: ‘Tea Party’ Style Campaign Against Carbon Tax
If the Oz blogosphere is any indication, the next Australian Federal election will be a referendum on a proposed climate tax. And the issue has already become nasty and personal. GV author Kevin Rennie gathers online reactions to this controversial measure.
Cuba: Damas de Blanco Attacked
Bloggers discuss the latest crackdown on Cuban dissidents.
Trinidad & Tobago: The Death Penalty
“Faced with a major problem with serious crime in Trinidad & Tobago, the current government is ( rather predictably) pushing for the reimplementation of the death penalty”: Globewriter is heartened by “a few young activists who are…speaking out” against the move.
Cuba: Watching from Within
“There has not [been] enough coverage or information to even begin to address the complexity of these events and the numberless perspectives interpreting them”: Graham Sowa blogs at Havana Times about watching the Middle East protests from Cuba.
Cuba: The Day Zapata Died
Iván's File Cabinet remembers the day that hunger striker and prisoner of conscience Orlando Zapata Tamayo died.
Turks & Caicos, Barbados: Disappearing Blog
The tcipost blog “disappeared overnight without notice”; Barbados Free Press comes to the rescue.
Jamaica: Nothing for the Youth?
“We too busy having dramatic, Days-of-our-lives type enquiries to stop for a minute and realise that this year, more than any other year to date, is all about us. It's about the African people. It's about youth”: Ruthibelle is dismayed that the UN International Year of Youth is not being...
Singapore: Human rights record
Spotlight on Singapore compares the human rights record of Singapore with Hong Kong and comments that Singapore is trailing in the area of political freedom.
Malaysia: Rally against ‘racist’ book
A rally was held by Malaysian Indians in Kuala Lumpur to protest the continuing use of Interlok novel in schools. The controversial book, according to protesters, discriminates against the Indian community.
Oman: Protests Continue in Sohar
The waves of Arab revolt have reached the shores of Oman as hundreds of Omanis take to the streets in calls for reform and the end of corruption in different areas across the Sultanate. The killing of protesters by riot police sparked more anger - as protesters burned property in retaliation.
Ukraine: Choosing to Leave
With Ukraine hit hard by the economic crisis and most citizens disappointed with the overall economic and political situation, more and more discussions about emigration alternatives have been appearing online. Tetyana Bohdanova translates some of the netizens' views on the issue.
Central African Republic: Are citizens better off without elections
Louisa writes a report about elections in the Central African Republic: Though it would be an overstatement to say that Central Africans would be better off without elections, it is hard to see how elections contribute to making people's concerns heard and responded to by capital-based leaders who like to...
Africa: Let's Talk About African Governments
lgazissax discusses African governments: “The uprisings in northern Africa and the Middle East had gotten me wondering about certain things I’d read about problems of African government in general, and I wanted to see how they played out in different countries.”
Zambia: Minister Uses Facebook to Announce Government Policies
Zambia’s education minister Dora Siliya who is also ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) spokesperson, has in the last few months used Facebook to make important government policy announcements as well as party matters.
